The AFL-CIO report "The Double Standard at Work: European Corporate Investment and Workers' Rights in the American South", published in October 2019 examines European companies’ choices on workers’ organizing rights in Southern states of the United States, in a context of growing foreign direct investment over the past 25 years. 

In particular, the report includes case studies on companies alleging they apply anti-union strategies and tactics despite having publicly committed themselves to international human rights and labour standards, including organizing and collective bargaining rights.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies named in the report to respond. Airbus, Fresenius, IKEA, LSG Sky Chefs, Nestlé, Skanska and Outokumpu responded, their responses are available below. Schnellecke, Thyssenkrupp and Volkswagen did not respond.